For
a dramatic male/male read, look no further than Getting It Right by A.M.
Arthur. This contemporary romance is full of heart-wrenching moments guaranteed
to draw you in and leave you wanting more.

Detective Nathan Wolf might just be a junior detective, but he tackles every
case with the passion that he lacks in his personal life. A series of failed
relationships with women has left him still single at thirty-four--because he's
too scared to admit to his longtime crush on his best friend James.Dr. James Taggert likes to keep his profession as a psychiatrist separate
from his party-animal persona. Known around the gay clubs as Tag, he’s the guy
who screws them, leaves them, and never looks back. But James’s drinking is
getting heavier, and when bad memories from the past resurface, he’s close to
becoming the worst version of himself.After a drunken blackout ends in a hot and heavy make-out session with his
very straight best friend, James has no memory of the steamy affair. But Nathan
isn't sorry for the kisses that James can't remember. Nathan finally musters
the courage to tell James how he really feels, but a life-altering event might
force them apart before they can ever be together.

For More Information

He smoked
his way through two more cigarettes before Nathan’s beat-up Ram pickup pulled
alongside the curb. For a city cop, he was still adorably country. Nathan
leaned across the console to shove open the passenger side door, and James
gratefully slid inside. The simple, familiar presence of Nathan nearby made
James’s nerves unfurl a little bit more. Nathan was the one thing in James’s
life that had always made sense. Had always been easy.

Weariness
settled into his bones, turning his drunken daze into extreme fatigue. He
wanted to pass out and soon.

Nathan
shoved a bottle of water at him, then eased the truck back into the street. He
cracked both of the front windows, probably because James reeked of smoke.
Nathan had never been shy about telling him how gross his habit was. Nathan was
also smart enough not to engage in conversation until they were shuffling up
the short sidewalk to Nathan’s half of a two-story duplex. Nathan slung an arm
around James’s waist, and the heat of the other man’s body so close felt
amazing. Real. Not like the fake closeness of dancing with strangers in a
crowded bar.

He finally
got a good look at his friend as Nathan crossed the narrow living room to the
kitchen in the rear. Flannel pajama pants and a spring coat. James had woken
him up.

Yeah,
I’m a douche bag.

“You
hungry?” Nathan shouted from the kitchen.

“No.” In
the familiar, somewhat cluttered warmth of Nathan’s home, he had a safe place
to wallow in the shame still burning in his gut.

Nathan’s
place was the definition of a straight bachelor’s pad—which worked since Nathan
was a straight bachelor. Dark leather furniture right out of a magazine’s page,
decorated exactly the same because he couldn’t be bothered. A monster,
sixty-inch flat screen mounted on the wall over an entertainment console
boasted two gaming systems, alongside a Blu-ray player and hundreds of movies.
Only a handful of photos hung on the wall, mostly of his rather large extended
family that lived in southern Delaware.

James
paused to stare at a familiar photo of himself with Nathan, taken right after
Nathan had graduated from the police academy. They were both grinning, arms
slung around each other’s shoulder. Nathan so handsome in his uniform, James in
a gray suit that hadn’t been stylish in a decade. Because that’s how long it
had been. Nathan had made detective last year, so he didn’t wear his uniform
anymore. James sort of missed it.

Nathan
came back into the living room sans coat, a white wifebeater showing off his
muscled arms and flat stomach. He was one-eighth Nanticoke Indian on his
mother’s side, which gave his skin a lovely golden hue. His short hair was
shiny black, and was always soft on the rare occasion James had a reason to
touch it. His dark brown eyes often seemed to be smiling at him, even when
things were serious, like right now.

He was
carrying a bamboo tray loaded down with two shot glasses, a bottle of Kentucky
bourbon and a bag of barbecue potato chips. He settled the tray on his
magazine-covered coffee table, then poured them each a shot.

James sank
onto the couch next to Nathan and accepted the glass. After a silent toast, he
threw it back. The harsh, smoky liquid burned its way into his stomach.

Nathan
refilled both glasses. “Does your mom know?”

About the Author:

No
stranger to the writing world, A.M. Arthur has been creating stories in her
head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long. She credits
an early fascination with male friendships and "bromance" (and "The
Young Riders") with her later discovery of and subsequent affair with m/m
romance stories. When not writing, she can be found in her kitchen, pretending
she's an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her
cuisine experiments.

The book tells the story of Mallory Hammond's promise to a dying cousin. Since she couldn't donate her kidney to Kelsey as she was too young for an operation, she vowed to do it and save someone else's life when she's older.Right after college, Mallory spent all her time literally looking at every opportunity where she can save life. She even worked in a medical clinic so she can help people while waiting to fulfill her promise. One day, an opportunity came knocking on her door. A dying girl from Pakistan needs to travel to the US so she can have a chance for a better treatment. Although she knew traveling to a war-torn Pakistan would be a dangerous mission, she packed her bag and went to fetch the Pakistani girl.Thought The Promise is the best Christian book I have read from Thomas Nelson. It talks about how people with different faith and background, still could get along, could feel love to one another as long as they respect each other's belief. Mallory, the main character is a non-believer while her boyfriend is a devout Catholic, her boss and his fiancée are both Muslim. The Promise is tagged as a Christian book, which is usually a slow read. I was pleasantly surprised that the story is intense, lots of action and suspense. Overall, this is an extremely good read, can't wait to read more from this author!

About the book:Mallory's search for happiness leads her to a faraway place. There she finds heartache, betrayal--and danger. Can the only man she's ever loved rescue her before it's too late? Mallory Hammond is determined not to let her boyfriend, parents, or anyone else get in the way of her #1 goal--to save a life. She had that chance when she was a teenager, and the opportunity slipped away, leaving a void she's desperate to fill. Then a new friend she met online offers her the chance she's dreamed of. But she'll have to leave behind everyone she loves to take it. Tate Webber has loved Mallory for years. He understands that Mallory's free spirit has to fly, and when he gives her the space she needs, he hopes that when she lands, the two of them will be in the same place and can marry at last. In a bold move--and with lots of resistance from Tate and those closest to her--Mallory decides to travel across the world to fulfill her dream. Tate begs her not to go, but Mallory embarks on the dangerous journey to Pakistan anyway, only to discover how swiftly and easily promises can be broken. Her new friend isn't who he says he is. And Mallory can only pray she'll make it out alive. Inspired by actual events, this riveting story will take you on a wild journey and have you asking yourself: How far would I go for love?About the author:

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. Having sold over 1.3 million books, her novels have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller List and the CBA (Christian Book Association) Bestseller List. She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013. She is a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and an INSPY Award winner. In 2013 she took home the coveted Holt Medallion. Her first book in the Land of Canaan series--Seek Me With All Your Heart--was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. Beth is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing into the year 2018, and she has published twelve novels and nine novellas to date.As a former newspaper reporter, Beth was honored by her peers with eleven journalism awards, including first place news writing for The Texas Press Association. She has been a humor columnist for The 1960 Sun in Houston and published articles in various publications. However, writing novels is where her heart is. She left her job as a journalist in 2008 to write novels full time. Beth has a deep affection for the Amish and their simpler way of life, and while she plans to continue writing Amish love stories, she is also branching out into other areas. Her first non-Amish, contemporary--Need You Now--released in April 2012 and landed on the CBA Bestseller List. She enjoyed writing the story based in a town near where she lives, and she chose another small Texas town for her next non-Amish contemporary--The House that Love Built--which is based in Smithville, the same quaint town where movies such as Hope Floats and Tree of Life were filmed. In a daring new novel, Beth jumps way outside the box. The Promise will take readers far away from Amish Country and small Texas towns to a dangerous place on the other side of the world. Inspired by actual events, Beth believes this is the book she's been working toward for a long time. Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying the country life in Texas with three dogs, two cats, and two potbellied pigs. When she's not writing, she loves to travel, paint, and enjoy time with friends and family. You can find Beth at Fans of Beth Wiseman on Facebook where she interacts with readers or visit bethwiseman.com to learn more about Beth and her books.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

How long can a person hold their secret safe? The agony alone is unbearable. This porch has a story, a life. It breathes with memories of love—and secrets.Sixteen-year-old Sophie Mae Randolph, caught robbing a gas station with her boyfriend Gabe, avoids the juvenile detention center by accepting the Judge’s alternative: that she spend a year on a Nebraska farm with her grandmother, Lila, whom she has never met. None too happy at first, Sophie eventually settles into farm life and opens up to the love of her grandmother, a dog named Hunner, and a new boyfriend named Blake.Along the way, Sophie realizes that not only does she have her secrets, but Lila does too.When Gabe reappears, Sophie’s very life may be in danger. Will Sophie and her grandma share their deepest secrets, or will they hide in the shells they’ve created for so many year? Discover the transforming power of love and the Secrets of the Porch.

Monday, April 20, 2015

"It's Monday! What are you reading?" is a fun meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. This is where we share the books we have read the last week and our reading plans for this week.

Books Reviewed

5-star book reviewHow long can a person hold their secret safe? The agony alone is unbearable. This porch has a story, a life. It breathes with memories of love—and secrets.Sixteen-year-old Sophie Mae Randolph, caught robbing a gas station with her boyfriend Gabe, avoids the juvenile detention center by accepting the Judge’s alternative: that she spend a year on a Nebraska farm with her grandmother, Lila, whom she has never met. None too happy at first, Sophie eventually settles into farm life and opens up to the love of her grandmother, a dog named Hunner, and a new boyfriend named Blake.Along the way, Sophie realizes that not only does she have her secrets, but Lila does too.When Gabe reappears, Sophie’s very life may be in danger. Will Sophie and her grandma share their deepest secrets, or will they hide in the shells they’ve created for so many year? Discover the transforming power of love and the Secrets of the Porch.

Lori Powers loved being a flight attendant because life at home was a constant nightmare of physical and mental abuse. But her own trauma paled in comparison to her husband’s sexual abuse of their only child. Emily’s suicide note blamed Lori for failing to protect her. Overwhelmed by guilt, Lori sought justice for her Emily. When she heard the voices, she murdered domineering, abusive men whose misfortune brought them across her path.

The murder of Dr. Thaddeus Abrams, the precinct’s psychiatrist brought FBI profiler Mika Scott back to the precinct she began as a homicide detective and also face to face with her past partner and lover Detective Jake Roberts. Together they search for the killer. Michael Gates, Abrams’ lover, wanted to punish Lori. It cost Chief of Detectives Ed Fairchild his life. Airline captain Nick Parker had an insatiable, deviant sexual appetite. Things went desperately wrong when young flight attendant Megan joined him on a layover. Lori was part of the crew. When she met Parker, she heard Emily cry out from the grave. Currently Reading

Detective Jake Roberts and FBI profiler Mika Scott return in the murder mystery Mind Over Murder––the long awaited sequel to After the Evil. Both await the arrival of the flight that brings the infamous serial killer Lori Powers back to the U.S. to face charges escorted by Interpol agents.

Jared Hamilton is a genius, has earned multiple PhDs, and is twenty-five years old. His father Richard Hamilton is of one of the wealthiest men in the world. His mother Contessa was once an international supermodel. Jared has turned down offers by captains of industry, presidents of Ivy League universities, and Wall Street bankers. What Jared wants most is to be a criminal. He is already a world-class hacker and has committed a variety of felonies. Now he wants to experience the feel of blood on his hands. Jared wants to be a serial killer like Lori Powers and he wants Lori to be his consort. He devises a heinous plot to get Jake to bring Lori to him. When Jake discovers that he is Jarod’s next victim he puts together a plan, albeit illegal, to stop him.

This is not your run-of-the-mill serial killer story. “Mind Over Murder” is the perfect serial killer read!

This is the sweet and funny tale of a young girl named Candy and a Cankersaurus Rex! Candy receives a dinosaur as a gift and is determined to train him to be a good pet.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Series: Hardy Durkin Travel MysteryPaperback: 302 pagesPublisher: VirtualbookwormKindle file size: 801 KBHardy Durkin’s second travel mystery, Abruzzo Intrigue, finds Hardy leading a hiking tour in Italy’s high-rural Abruzzo region. Dubbed the ‘green heart’ of Europe, Abruzzo offers the hikers a heady mix of spectacular scenery, spiritual history, and fresh, pure regional gastronomy. Some of the cast of characters are who they seem to be, but most aren't. One member of the group, a grieving widower, plans to steal one of the Vatican's most precious religious relics, The First Eucharistic Miracle, from the Church of San Francesco in Lanciano, and embarks on a dangerous odyssey of the soul that ends in redemption. Along the way, Hardy crosses paths with an Interpol agent, elements of the Italian mafia and, indirectly, an Albanian drug lord. The book is a collision of values and traditions while hiking through the oft-overlooked beauty of ancient Abruzzo.

Bluette Matthey is a 3rd generation Swiss-American and an avid lover of European cultures. She has decades of travel and writing experience. She is a keen reader of mysteries, especially those that immerse the reader in the history, inhabitants, culture, and cuisine of new places. Her passion for travel, except airports (where she keeps a mystery to pass the time), is shared by her husband, who owned a tour outfitter business in Europe. Bluette particularly loves to explore regions that are not on the “15 days in Europe” itineraries. She also enjoys little-known discoveries, such as those in the London Walks, in well-known areas. She firmly believes that walking and hiking bring her closer to the real life any locale. Bluette maintains a list of hikes and pilgrimages throughout Europe for future exploration. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, faithful dog, and band of loving cats. Her next novel, Black Forest Reckoning, deals with a serial killer in Germany’s Black Forest.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Hardcover: 284 pagesPublisher: AuthorHouse (March 7, 2007)Paperback: 338 pagesPublisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; Revised edition (February 3, 2014)Kindle EditionFile Size: 759 KBPrint Length: 339 pagesSimultaneous Device Usage: UnlimitedSold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, Cary Allen Stone. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★My thoughts:Lori Powers kills prominent and abusive men to overcome the pain of losing her daughter to a suicide she caused. As she works as a flight attendant, it is so easy for her to murder her target and disappear without a trace. When Lori has killed about four men, the police started to worry. The crime scene is always clean and no one could get a clue where to begin the investigation. So they sent Jake Roberts, the best detective in town to solve the complicated murders, and it became even more complicated once the detective met and fell in love with the killer.

After the Evil is a very good suspense book. Although the killer was revealed too soon, the story is still exciting. The mysteries of murders kept my eyes glued to the pages of the book. I admit, it was a bit of a struggle for me to read on as I find the story dark for moms like me. After experiencing trauma during my two pregnancies, I now couldn't handle children's death or suicide. But I finished reading this so it was an accomplishment for me.If you are looking for a great suspense/mystery story, you might want to pick up this book. I assure you, your money is well spent on this one!About the book:Detective Jake Roberts and FBI profiler Mika Scott are in hot pursuit of the “Who’s Your Daddy” serial killer that preys on dominating and controlling men. During the investigation, Jake falls in love with flight attendant Lori Powers. Lori can’t silence the voices and her daughter Emily cries out from the grave. Pandemonium breaks out when Jake realizes Lori is the killer.About the author:

Cary Allen Stone is a brilliant writer of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries. He writes with a keen eye for detail-the graphic violence is chillingly realistic. He delivers a taut, darkly introspective, cunning and well-executed plot by leaning towards the fallible side of his characters. He understands the criminal mind avoiding the stereotypes that dominate crime thrillers. There is a good balance of chemistry and conflict, good and evil that fans will find enthralling. His characters become embedded in our psyches and the pace of his unraveling of his thriller is a ride not easily forgotten. Cary Allen Stone is an important name to watch. This is one superb crime writer!--Grady Harp Top 100 ReviewerVine Voice 2014In addition, he had a non-speaking character role in an AAA Club advertisement and has done voice-over radio commercials. He is currently working on his next Jake Roberts novel. He is a member of the Phoenix Writer's Club, the Arizona Authors Association and The Desert Sleuths, Author Social Media Support Group, International Thriller Writers.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

First of all, thank you, Jenai, for inviting me into your world.Traveling has always been an important part of my life. My father used to load up our travel trailer and head for destinations unknown: the West, Canada’s western provinces, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Florida, and all points in-between. Sometimes we’d be gone a month or more. It was grand. Staying in all the national parks, meeting people from all walks of life around the campfires at night …I discovered I loved a good mystery, too. Alfred Hitchcock on Friday nights became a ritual at our house. I was around eight or nine years old and I’d crowd up against my dad as close as I could, scared to death by some of Alfred’s plots, loving every minute of it. I was a voracious reader, and when I discovered Ellery Queen Jr’s. ‘Black Mystery Dog’ as a fourth grader I was hooked. Over the next few years I read every mystery in our public library, and some of them twice. I looked at life like a puzzle to solve and people’s motives became grist for my mill of curiosity. Three years ago I was visiting my youngest son in London and taking one of those marvelous ‘London Walks’ tours. Standing on Charterhouse Square I looked up and recognized Whitehaven Mansions, home of Agatha Christie’s Belgian sleuth, Hercule Poirot, and something inside flared up. I called my husband from the airport in Philly and told him I wanted to write travel mysteries, with each one represented by a letter of the alphabet.

My first, ‘Corsican Justice’, was set on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. Fascinating place. Has it all: Old-world charm, great croissants and coffee, gangsters, lots of sun, the French Foreign Legion, vendettas, and joie de vivre. Then came ‘Abruzzo Intrigue’, which takes place in the ‘Italian Outback’ of Abruzzo, Europe’s green heart, a truly beautiful area with great food wonderful hiking trails, and a great quality of life. My third book, yet unpublished, is ‘Black Forest Reckoning’, which rolls out in the Black Forest area of Germany, and my current project is ‘Dalmatian Traffick’. All my mysteries are a series, using the same protagonist, Hardy Durkin. They are set in lesser known areas in Europe, and I do an immense amount of research into each locale’s history, culture, and cuisine to give an accurate portrayal of that area, as well as boots on the ground for first-hand experience. Then I weave in a well-written mystery, et voila!

Corsican JusticeBluette Matthey, authorVirtualbookworm, publisher276 pagesTravel Mystery (series)Available in paperback, Kindle, & NookThe first book of the Hardy Durkin Travel Mysteries, Corsican Justice, introduces the main character, Hardy Durkin, as he travels to the French isle of Corsica to mix some business with mostly pleasure. Or so he thinks. Hardy is a hiking tour outfitter who hosts small groups of successful business people and professionals seeking refuge from their fast-paced lives in off-the-beaten-path destinations in Europe. Hardy is a multi-lingual former pentathlete with a high-tech background in interpreting electronic intelligence and has dual German-American citizenship. The GR-20, Europe’s most challenging hiking trail, is in Hardy’s sights to explore with the possibility of adding it to his hiking venues. Hardy also seeks closure for the accidental death of his father several years earlier in a motorcycle accident in Les Calanches region along Corsica’s western coast. After an attempt is made on Hardy’s life and he is subsequently kidnapped, he learns that his father’s accident was really murder and he vows to avenge this dad’s untimely death. He finds himself involved with the French Foreign Legion, a Russian mob, and an arms-smuggling Corsican gang as he struggles to bring a killer to justice and close a painful cold-case murder.

Abruzzo IntrigueBluette Matthey, authorVirtualbookworm, publisher302 pagesTravel Mystery (series)Available in paperback, Kindle, & NookHardy Durkin’s second travel mystery, Abruzzo Intrigue, finds Hardy leading a hiking tour in Italy’s high-rural Abruzzo region. Dubbed the ‘green heart’ of Europe, Abruzzo offers the hikers a heady mix of spectacular scenery, spiritual history, and fresh, pure regional gastronomy. Some of the cast of characters are who they seem to be, but most aren't. One member of the group, a grieving widower, plans to steal one of the Vatican's most precious religious relics, The First Eucharistic Miracle, from the Church of San Francesco in Lanciano, and embarks on a dangerous odyssey of the soul that ends in redemption. Along the way, Hardy crosses paths with an Interpol agent, elements of the Italian mafia and, indirectly, an Albanian drug lord. The book is a collision of values and traditions while hiking through the oft-overlooked beauty of ancient Abruzzo.

Monday, April 13, 2015

As the new castellan, Sir Nicholas Beringar has the daunting task of rebuilding Ravenmoor Castle on the Scottish border and gaining the trust of the locals—one of whom wastes no time in trying to rob him. Instead of punishing the boy, Nicholas decides to make him his squire. Little does he know the thieving young lad is really…a lady.Lady Elizabet Armstrong had donned a disguise in an attempt to free her brother from Ravenmoor’s dungeons. Although intimidated by the confident Englishman with his well-honed muscles and beguiling eyes, she cannot refuse his offer.Nicholas senses that his new squire is not what he seems. His gentle attempts to break through the boy’s defenses leave Elizabet powerless to stem the desire that engulfs her. And when the truth is exposed, she’ll have to trust in Nicholas’s honor to help her people—and to surrender to his touch…

Praise for the novels of Diana Cosby“Cosby gives you it all—passion, danger, lush history and a touch of magic. Excellent reading.” —Hannah Howell, New York Times bestselling author“A sexy new voice in historical romance. Scottish historicals have a bright new star (in Diana Cosby).”—Sandra Hill, USA Today bestselling author“Diana Cosby writes wonderful historical romance!” —Susan KingFOR MORE INFORMATIONAn Oath Sworn is available at Amazon

A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Her award-winning books are translated in five languages. Diana has appeared at Lady Jane’s Salon, in NYC, and in Woman’s Day, on USA Today’s romance blog, “Happily Ever After,” MSN.com, and in Texoma Living Magazine.After retiring as a Navy Chief, AGC(AW), Diana dove into her passion – writing romance novels. With 34 moves behind her, she was anxious to create characters who reflected the amazing cultures and people she’s met throughout the world.Her years of living in Europe inspired Diana to write in the medieval time frame. After watching the movie Braveheart and with her passion for writing complex plots, the idea for the MacGruder brothers series was born.With the release of her 1st book in her new Scottish medieval The Oath trilogy, An Oath Taken, which hit bestseller lists in Canada and the United Kingdom, she’s now preparing for the release of the e Box Set of the MacGruder Brothers series on February 24th, and the last two books in The Oath trilogy, An Oath Broken – 22 June, and, An Oath Sworn – 23 December, 2015!Diana has many passions in life, but one that resonates in her life is that of giving. She firmly believe that each of us can make a positive difference in another person’s life. Some of the charities she supports are listed below:The National Trust for Scotland, which acts asguardian of Scotland’s magnificent heritage of architectural, scenic and historic treasures.Habitat For Humanity, which gives a deserving family more than a home, but a foundation upon which to build their dreams..Semper Fi Fund , is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to help with immediate financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.Homes For Our Troops, assists severely injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and their immediate families through various venues to aid them in building a home that allows them live a more independent life.The Navy SEAL Foundation, provides immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families.For More InformationVisit Diana’s website.Connect with Diana on Facebook

About the book:Fourteen-year-old Jackson Elderberry Monroe is an indigo with unusual abilities. Due to acceleration codes imbedded in his DNA, he is picked by a group of Guardian extraterrestrials to help protect the planet Earth from sinister alien technology deliberately designed to pull Earth into a black hole in the center of the galaxy.The Guardian extraterrestrials choose TeTe, a strangely weird but wise representative from the sixth dimension to prepare and train the young indigo for what portends to be a very dangerous time travel mission and to open his mind to the true history of the planet, which has been safely kept on selenite crystals until now. Intrigued by an adventure that includes taking hyperspace leaps while transcending time, making new alien friends, and indulging in off planet retrieval missions and recreational opportunities, Jackson decides to give the training program a try. Now only time will tell if Jackson and the Guardian team will be successful in altering the timeline of Earth’s fall.Why Me? is the continuing science fiction tale of a gifted teenager’s journey through hyperspace, with the help of an alien mentor, in an effort to save Earth from a horrifying fate.

About the book:The first book of the Hardy Durkin Travel Mysteries, Corsican Justice, introduces the main character, Hardy Durkin, as he travels to the French isle of Corsica to mix some business with mostly pleasure.Or so he thinks. Hardy is a hiking tour outfitter who hosts small groups of successful business people and professionals seeking refuge from their fast-paced lives in off-the-beaten-path destinations in Europe. Hardy is a multi-lingual former pentathlete with a high-tech background in interpreting electronic intelligence and has dual German-American citizenship. The GR-20, Europe’s most challenging hiking trail, is in Hardy’s sights to explore with the possibility of adding it to his hiking venues. Hardy also seeks closure for the accidental death of his father several years earlier in a motorcycle accident in Les Calanches region along Corsica’s western coast. After an attempt is made on Hardy’s life and he is subsequently kidnapped, he learns that his father’s accident was really murder and he vows to avenge this dad’s untimely death. He finds himself involved with the French Foreign Legion, a Russian mob, and an arms-smuggling Corsican gang as he struggles to bring a killer to justice and close a painful cold-case murder.

Friday, April 10, 2015

In THE LADY WHO LIVED AGAIN, the first book in the new Soul Survivor series, Madeline Sutter and her four gorgeous friends rule the Gilded Age resort town of Glass Lake, NY with silk-covered fists—until the day the entire clique is killed in a devastating accident. Although Maddie is declared dead at the scene, she later awakens to find herself shunned by once adoring neighbors who now fear she has been touched by the devil. Maddie knows the town’s handsome new physician could ruin her for good if he discovers the explosive secret behind her survival, but she will need his help if she’s ever to regain her place in the sun. As a man of science, Dr. Jace Merrick feels duty-bound to quash the superstitious rumors of Maddie’s “resurrection.” But Jace is so infatuated with his latest patient that he’s losing his grip on his professionalism. An affair means danger for both of them, but Maddie and Jace cannot seem to fight the pull. Instead, she hides behind lies, he hides behind logic, and both resist love as the truth is unveiled.FOR MORE INFORMATIONThe Lady Who Lived Again is available at Amazon

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Kindle Buy LinkFile Size: 8358 KBPrint Length: 34 pagesPublisher: Jason Sandberg eBooks (June 12, 2012)Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.About the book:This is the sweet and funny tale of a young girl named Candy and her Cankersaurus Rex! Candy receives a dinosaur as a gift and is determined to train him to be a good pet. This playful homage to Syd Hoff will make all dinosaur-crazy boys and girls happy! Q&A with Jason SandbergCan you tell us about another project you are working on? A painting or a picture book? (or both!) I’m in the planning/sketching stages of my next book, all I can say at this time is that it’s about a turtle. The ongoing project for this Spring will be working on Spanish editions of my books with my friend Martin Bucio.

Horse Number Three2004, 30x24 inchesAcrylic on board, Sold

When you come up with an idea for a book, what does your process look like? What comes first, the words or the pictures? How do you refine the art and the words? It usually begins with the characters. I believe that kids need appealing characters to draw them into a Picture Book. Once I have the characters I come up with an appropriate conundrum to challenge them. Then I begin to thumbnail the story on recipe cards. I draw little sketches of the story beats with a first draft of dialogue. Once I’m certain I have the minimum building blocks of a book I place it in the filing cabinet for a few weeks while I work on other projects. As I’m walking around in the interim I’ll make notes to myself about what I should add or change. Then I pull the recipe cards out of the filing cabinet and look at everything with fresh eyes. I’ll do a second draft on recipe cards with more detailed sketches, allowing me to play with the pacing and story structure. When I’m comfortable with how the story is arranged I translate my recipe cards into the second draft of the text, followed by the artwork. I’ll pass the text among friends and family while I’m working on the artwork. That gives them plenty of time to get back to me with suggestions and typos to fix.

The Shell Collectors2010, 30x24 inchesAcrylic on board, $4,000.00

How do you get inspiration for your artwork? How many drafts of a painting do you usually do before your final? When I’m beginning a Realist painting I set a challenge for myself, such as “how will you create the illusion of ice and slush?” Then the secondary challenged is to accomplish the first and make something aesthetically pleasing. The Realist paintings give me month-long ice cream headaches, but I feel stronger at the end. The Abstractions and Impressionist paintings work differently. Those paintings are akin to exploration, how can I “paint incorrectly” and make it work? The Abstractions and Impressionist paintings usually only take a few hours spread over a few days.Which are you more proud of, your realist paintings or your abstract? In your opinion, what are their distinct strengths?I have a greater sense of accomplishment when I finish a Realist painting because there are so many opportunities for the image to collapse along the way. A painting is the end result of a cumulative process, and each step of the way is a dance between experiment and previously acquired craftsmanship. I don’t necessarily feel pride when I’ve completed an Abstraction. There’s a sense of delight and discovery, an opportunity to ponder why the non-real can cause an aesthetic response.

Eiffel Tower Number 32013, 24x30 inchesAcrylic on board, $4,000.00

Do you have any goals for yourself as a painter or a picture book writer and illustrator that you'd care to share? When I create a picture book I aim to make something that everyone can get a kick out of. I try to slip in things to make adults/parents laugh. I view quality as the ability of a book to hold up under multiple reads! My overarching goal is to continually aim for quality, to make books and paintings that will survive the test of time.

How did you get into art? What gave you the push? When I was 6 my grandmother took me along while she was running errands. At the drugstore she bought me a comic book by Jack Kirby and the images jumped off the page. I knew that I was holding inert newsprint in my hands but his drawings seemed to move and vibrate, it was akin to seeing a magic trick and wanting to figure out how it was done!

Initially, was your family more discouraging or supportive? What was the environment? Salutary neglect that grew into pleasant surprise. I don’t come from an artsy family, there are creative-thinking and problem-solving traits in my extended family but I believe I’m the only artist. I have come to the conclusion that the act of making art can’t make someone an artist. What makes someone an artist is the inability to not make art, and discouragement or support can’t affect that. I have to do this.To view more, click HERE